UPFA unveils “scientific” election machinery

UPFA stalwarts yesterday pledged to conduct an election based on a “scientific structure” as they prepare the election machinery for the upcoming contest.
Addressing the media Transport Minister Dullas Allahaperuma was vociferous in his announcement of an election organisational framework that was “efficient and competitive.” Drawing parallels with a machine that was scientifically constructed to achieve its goal he maintained that it would be virtually impossible for the “politically bankrupt” UNP to oppose this organisation.
Noting that the main operators met at Temple Trees last week to be briefed on the plans for the election, Allahaperuma maintained that the task had already taken off on its own thanks to the leadership qualities of the President. However, the meeting had been an opportune occasion to appoint the Badulla District under UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha who will be spearheading the campaign with the assistance of Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. Other senior members including Power and Energy Minister W.J Seneviratne, North Central Province Chief Minister Bertie Premalal Dissanayaka and Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maithreepala Herath have been selected to assist the process in Monaragla.
“We have planned 881 electoral level election meetings out of which almost 80 have already been completed. Of the rest we will have 27 divisional level meetings that will be supported by ten main meetings. The pinnacle of the campaign will be two election rallies that will be conducted with the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa a few days before the elections. The last one will be on July 5 just before we wind down the campaign,” he said.
The Minister also stated that door to door canvassing would be conducted in two stages, with the first phase kicking off weekend after next. Over 300 000 voters will be delivered a bill printed in Tamil and Sinhala detailing the party manifesto. The second phase will be on the last weekend before the elections on July 25 and July 26. In addition each election seat has had an outside council member appointed to monitor the proceedings.
“The leadership will be monitoring the campaign and providing assistance by networking from the headquarters in Colombo on a weekly basis. We will also conduct an evaluation of the campaign during the door to door campaigns to gauge the sentiments of the people and the effectiveness of our campaign. Given how well this has been planned we are confident that the UNP will be completely wiped out during these elections.”